hmm, not really sure if it's handy. The only thing i can come up with is that you can remake other maps.

For what would you use it?

Click to expand...

Pretty much what Artesia said. You can draw the layout in a paper, scan it and put it on Hammer and you build the map on the reference picture without worring about if you're doing the wrong sizes (cause you already know the proportions you made on the paper).

- The ability to embed custom objects and textures on compile, instead of doing it afterward with Pakrat.

- Make it so when you use your mouse wheel in the Texture browser, it scrolls through the textures rather than scrolling to previous text searches.

- The ability to rotate the skybox texture (in case you want the moon or mountains or sunset to appear from a different ange in your map). I know you can rotate your entire map, but wouldn't it be neat to just tell the skybox texture to rotate 90 degrees in your map properties instead?

- The ability to embed custom objects and textures on compile, instead of doing it afterward with Pakrat.

- Make it so when you use your mouse wheel in the Texture browser, it scrolls through the textures rather than scrolling to previous text searches.

Click to expand...

http://developer.valvesoftware.com/wiki/Bspzip add it in with expert compile mode or whatnot.
Pakrat is just a 3rd party tool that supposedly makes it "easier", but the original function comes from that valve tool. I find it easier because I can just maintain the content list, adding an item every time I use something, and then it's always up to date and there is no having to make sure everything is there and nothing was missed.

The scrolling: the search box is just the default focus, click on a texture to focus the texture pane, and then you can scroll it.

My workaround for Pakrat has been to place a small brush in an out-of-the-way area that uses my custom model's material. I do one for each custom model. For some reason, Pakrat will notice your material if it's on a brush somewhere.

But I still think it would be really nice to just check a box to automatically include custom models... especially if Valve already has the programs to do it.